New York, NY, February 16, 2016 – Today the National Tartan Day New York Committee announced that Scottish actor Sam Heughan, will be the Grand Marshal in the 2016 New York Tartan Day Parade which will take place on Saturday, April 9th.

Sam is best known for his role as the 18th Century Scottish Highlander Jamie Fraser in the STARZ hit series “Outlander.” The series is adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s international best-selling books and executive produced by Ronald D. Moore (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation”). “Outlander” is currently filming Season Two on location in Scotland which will premiere on STARZ April 9th, at 9pm ET/PT.

Heughan says, “As Grand Marshal of the New York Tartan Day parade 2016, I am honored and proud to serve the city and its ancestral ties. I love the city, the people, and the vibe. Please join me in toasting all who live and visit there with a whisky and a toast!”

“Address to New York” – As quoted from the celebrated Scottish poet, Robert Burns.

New York! Scotia’s family seat,
All hail thy palaces and towers,
Where once a year, Scotch Monarchs meet,
And March,
Honored on America’s avenue of powers.”

Heughan joins the illustrious alumni who have led the Parade, including Sir Sean Connery, Alan Cumming, Cliff Robertson, Brian Cox, Kevin McKidd, and most recently in 2015, fellow Outlander star Graham McTavish.
The Tartan Day Parade is the highlight of celebrations which will run from April 2nd to the 10th, which includes a diverse range of events, from the Scotland Run through Central Park, to lunch-time concerts, business seminars, a Pre-Parade Ceilidh and much more.

Bands, Pipers, Dancers, and Clans from Scotland throughout the United States and Canada are joining the Parade along with dozens of Scottish and West Highland Terriers.

Highly anticipated are the 2016 Up Helly Aa Jarl Squad from Shetland. Also joining the Parade from Scotland will be the Edinburgh Academy Pipe Band and Strathallan School Pipe Band, among over 30 bands taking part in the celebration.
The Parade is organized by The National Tartan Day New York Committee, a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit registered charity. The Organization is comprised of the St. Andrews Society of the State of New York, the New York Caledonian Club, The American-Scottish Foundation, and Clan Campbell.

The New York Tartan Day Parade began 18 years ago with a with a handful of loud Scots and Scottish Americans walking down a sidewalk to be the culminating celebration of over 10 days of events that will take place throughout New York.

“I remember well the first Tartan Day Parade along the sidewalks of Third Avenue. I am proud this year, on our 18th Anniversary of the Parade, to see us grow from strength to strength. We hope you will join us on the Avenue,” said Alan Bain, President of the National Tartan Day New York Committee, the Parade organizers.

For further information regarding the New York Tartan Day Parade, please visit nyctartanweek.org.

Sam Heughan – Grand Marshal of the 2016 New York Tartan Day Parade (Jamie Fraser, in Starz hit series “Outlander”)

Sam Heughan is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. In 2003 he was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Most Promising Performance for his role in “Outlying Islands” by David Greig at The Royal Court and Traverse Theatre.

Heughan originated the role of Batman in the 2011 DC/Warner Bros. and Waterlane production of “Batman Live,” an international tour which opened at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and went on tour to Las Vegas, South America and throughout the U.K and Europe.

He has also had roles in a range of television series including “River City,” “Island at War,” “The Wild West,” “Party Animals,” “Midsomer Murders,” “Rebus” and most recently, “Any Human Heart” as Lieutenant McStay.

His TV movie credits include “Breaking the Mould” for BBC Television, “A Very British Sex Scandal” for Channel 4 and “First Light” for BBC2, an adaptation of the book, where he played the lead character Geoffrey Wellum. He was nominated for a Grace Award for his performance as Prince Ashton, the son of Sir Roger Moore, in “A Princess for Christmas” for Hallmark Channel.

His film credits include the short film Small Moments, and the feature films Young Alexander the Great and Emulsion. He will also be seen in the upcoming films Heart of Lightness – filmed in Norway in the Arctic Circle – and playing the lead role in When The Starlight Ends, an Independent movie shot in Los Angeles for Intellectual Films.

On stage, Heughan has performed at a variety of theaters in the U.K. in various classical and new writing pieces, plus the London West End, including such productions as “King John,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “The Vortex,” “Hamlet,” “Macbeth,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” “Plague over England” and more.

At the Royal Scottish Academy, Heughan starred in productions including “Crime & Punishment,” “The Seagull” and “Prometheus Bound.”

Since starring in “Outlander,” Heughan has received numerous fan-generated accolades, including the BBC America Anglophenia Man of the Year (2014), E! Online Alpha Male (2015), Entertainment Weekly’s EW-wy Best Actor – Drama (2015) and Radio Times TV Champion (2015). Additionally, “Outlander” took home the award for Favorite Cable Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Show at the 2015 People’s Choice Awards.

Sam created My Peak Challenge, a charity fitness event and brand. In collaboration with Leukemia Lymphoma Research, Bear Strength Clothing and Fight Camp Glasgow, they have raised thousands for charity.